Confusion on VAT may cause
shortage of drugs
Faridabad, April 5
The state seems to be heading for a severe shortage of drugs and medicines, thanks to the ‘delay’ by the Haryana Government to issue a notification regarding the new regime of tax under VAT, that came into effect in 21 states in the country from April 1.

Kurukshetra University Vice-Chancellor spared
Chandigarh, April 5
Resignations by the Vice-Chancellors of four Haryana universities following a state government move to restructure the universities has spared A K Chawala, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, from quitting.

VC Miglani quits
Hisar, April 5
The Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) Vice-Chancellor, Mr M.K. Miglani, has resigned from his post. He submitted his resignation to the Haryana Governor and HAU Chancellor Dr A.R. Kidwai, in Chandigarh yesterday.

Shekhawat pays homage to Surender Singh
Bhiwani, April 5
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today paid homage to Surender Singh who died in a choper crash. Mr Shekhawat offered floral tributes before the picture of the late leader and shared grief with Bansi Lal.

Shraddhanjali Sabha for Surender
Bhiwani, April 5
People from all walks of life are expected to converge in Bhiwani at 12 noon on April 11 to pay their last respects to the late Surender Singh, former Agriculture and Revenue Minister, Haryana, at a Shraddhanjali Sabha to be held at Bhim Stadium.Mr Surender Singh died in a helicopter crash in Saharanpur on March 31. Bhiwani is the family's hometown.

2 arrested for involvement in missing foodgrains case
Chandigarh, April 5
An Assistant Food and Supplies Officer and Inspector of the Haryana Food and Supplies Department were arrested by the Panipat police for involvement in the missing foodgrains case. Two officials, the District Food and Supplies Controllers
and District Food and Supplies Office, were suspended in the same case.

Two ministers get additional portfolios
Chandigarh, April 5
The Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, on the advice of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has allotted additional portfolios to two ministers.

People’s help must to curb crime: SP
Rohtak, April 5
The Superintendent of Police, Mr Subhash Yadav, said today that the results of the crime control campaign launched in the district would be noticeable within the next few weeks.

DA sought
Chandigarh, April 5
The Chairman and Members of the Haryana Public Service Commission have moved the High Court seeking dearness allowance, which they claim is not being given to them despite entitlement.

Rs 8 lakh looted from cashier
Rewari, April 5
Two armed youths looted Rs 8 lakh from the cashier of a petrol station Virender Filling Station near Jaliawas village, about 10 km from here, yesterday.
The robbers, along with the booty, fled in a Wagon-R ( HR 26 D 3458), which they abandoned near Mangleshwar Majri village, about 14 km from here.

Faridabad, April 5
The state seems to be heading for a severe shortage of drugs and medicines, thanks to the ‘delay’ by the Haryana Government to issue a notification regarding the new regime of tax under VAT, that came into effect in 21 states in the country from April 1. Though VAT was already applicable in Haryana, the state government was expected to issue directions in regard to the decision of the Union Government to reduce the tax on medicines to 4 per cent from the existing rate of 10 per cent. The confusion and delay on this front has led to a severe shortage of drugs and medicines throughout the state as the suppliers have suspended the supply for the time being.

A retailer of the medicines said here today that he had no supply of medicines, including the life saving drugs, from the wholesalers for the past five days. The stocks of nearly all the important medicines had depleted affecting the sale as well putting at risk the health of the patients. He said if there was no supply of the medicines in the next couple of days, he could be forced to put down the shutters.

According to Mr Satish Vij, general secretary of the Haryana State Chemists and Druggist Association, the crisis had occurred mainly due to the delay by the state government in issuing notification for the payment of tax at the rate of 4 per cent from April 1, instead of the usual rate of 10 per cent.

He said the authorities concerned should have taken measures to ensure that the wholesalers issued the receipts of the drug sales with the new tax rate, as announced by the Union Government. It may be recalled that the government had proposed the tax of 4 per cent on drugs to ensure that there was no spiral (negative) effect on the cost of medicines and life saving drugs after the VAT came into effect in 21 states from this month. He said a delegation of the association had recently met the Chief Minister and other officials concerned at Chandigarh in this regard, but despite their assurances there had been an unusual delay. Blaming the bureaucracy for the problem on this issue, a spokesperson for the association quoted a senior official, who reportedly told a representative on the phone that ‘the government do not work at the speed of light.’ He said the crisis could further deepen and it could seriously affect the health services, if the government delayed the matter unnecessarily. There are a total of over 100 wholesale dealers in Faridabad district alone, while the number of retailers in the state could be around 10,000. The total number of retailers in the district was around 650 at present.

Hisar, April 5
A large number of residents of Gaibipur village in the district today held a demonstration in protest against alleged irregularities committed by a poll official during election for the post of sarpanch in their village.

The protesters sought a re-election and threatened to intensify their stir if their demand was not met. The irate villagers reached the mini-secretariat here and staged a dharna.

A delegation of villagers met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, and complained that the poll official had himself cast bogus votes in favour of a candidate. He was in an inebriated condition while on duty, the delegation alleged.

The complainants maintained that when the said official did not heed to their warning, he was handed over to the police by the villagers. By then, he had allegedly cast a considerable number of votes in favour of a candidate, they added.

The villagers then requested the other poll officials to get the poll cancelled, but the result was declared despite their protest. They urged the Deputy Commissioner to order a repoll.

However, the Deputy Commissioner asserted that he could only institute an inquiry into the allegations against the poll official. At this, the villagers threatened to intensify their agitation. They also raised slogans against the administration.

In a similar development, a number of residents from Umra staged a protest demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s residence today. In the election for the post of sarpanch held yesterday, Mr Hawa Singh reportedly defeated his opponent Krishan by a single vote.

Mr Hawa Singh secured 1451 votes while Mr Krishan got 1450. On repeated plea by supporters of Mr Krishan, the votes were counted again today. In the recounting, two votes polled in favour of Mr Hawa Singh were found to be invalid. Hence, the final outcome went in favour of Mr Krishan.

However, his supporters boycotted the recounting and reached the Deputy Commissioner’s residence to register their protest. Seeing the volatile situation, heavy police force was deployed in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s residence.

Meanwhile, following allegations of rigging and violence, a repoll has been ordered at booth No. 111 in Kharkara village of the district.

Chandigarh, April 5
Resignations by the Vice-Chancellors of four Haryana universities following a state government move to restructure the universities has spared A K Chawala, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, from quitting.

It is learnt that Haryana Governor A R Kidwai had taken strong exception to the role of vice-chancellors of two Haryana universities as members of the search committee constituted by the previous Om Prakash Chautala-led government for making recommendations regarding appointment of a Vice-Chancellor for Ch. Devi Lal University (DLU) in Sirsa.

Mr A.K. Chawla, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University (KU), and Mr R.S. Dhankar, Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) of Rohtak, were both members of the search committee that recommended a panel of three names for consideration for appointment as VC of the university at Sirsa.

While three VCs (including Vishnu Bhagwan, who was holding dual charge of VC of Guru Jambheshwar University in Hisar and DLU in Sirsa) resigned yesterday. The picture regarding Mr Dhankar is still not clear. If a source is to be believed Mr Dhankar too will quit his office after the convocation ceremony of MDU on April 10. But in case he manages to save his job this time, he may still have some explanation to do in the wake of the Governor’s observation on his and Mr Chawla’s conduct as members of search committee for appointing VC of the university in Sirsa.

The panel of names prepared by the search committee included the name of K C Bangar, former chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), who allegedly resigned from the HPSC to enable the previous government to induct a new member in his place with a fresh term. Mr Bangar then went to Narwana to manage the election campaign of Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

Needless to say that his name was chosen by the previous government among the three names empanelled for appointment as VC of DLU. It was apparently an attempt by Mr Chautala to find Mr Bangar a new job as reward for the latter’s loyalty.

However, there was a serious flaw in the method adopted for recommendation of the names by the search committee. While all three members of the search committee should have taken part in making the panel, in this case only two of the members did the job. Ramesh Chandra of Jhansi University, who was a nominee of the Chancellor (Haryana Governor is the Chancellor of DLU), did not participate in the process of finalising a panel of names. It is learnt that Ramesh Chandra wrote to the Governor saying he was informed so late about the meeting of the search committee that it was not possible for him to come to Delhi in time for attending the meeting.

In the absence of the Chancellor’s nominee, the two Haryana VCs, who were present at the meeting, finalised the panel of names and sent the panel to the Chief Minister for choosing one of them as the VC.

The Governor, who had rejected the proposal, also observed that finalising the panel without having the Chancellor’s nominee in the meeting, amounted to violation of the statutory guidelines laid down for such a purpose.

Hisar, April 5
The Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) Vice-Chancellor, Mr M.K. Miglani, has resigned from his post. He submitted his resignation to the Haryana Governor and HAU Chancellor Dr A.R. Kidwai, in Chandigarh yesterday.

Talking to The Tribune at his residence here today, Mr Miglani expressed satisfaction over his stint as Vice-Chancellor. He assumed the charge in July, 2003, and was appointed for a period of four years.

On being asked whether he would protest against being asked to quit, he replied in the negative. “I was offered the post and had not applied for it. I have enjoyed my term and worked to the best of my capacity. I am satisfied that my efforts bore fruit but now that I have been told to put in my papers, I have decided to call it a day,” he stated.

Mr Miglani asserted that when he took over the reins of the university, it was in a financial mess. The grant sanctioned for the university was not being released and the faculty members were not getting salaries in time.

“It was a big challenge and I managed to get the grants released from the state government and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Gradually, we managed to set things right,” he said, adding that disciplining the students was the next target he achieved.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Hisar Division, Mr R.R. Phulia, today assumed the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) here. The post had fallen vacant following the resignation of Mr Vishnu Bhagwan.

Chandigarh, April 5
The Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, who is also the Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra , Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, and Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, has accepted the resignation of the Vice -Chancellors, Dr A.K.Chawla and Mr Vishnu Bhagwan. Mr Vishnu Bhagwan was the Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University as well as Chaudhary Devi Lal University.

According to separate notifications issued by the Secretary to the Governor, Mr Vijai Vardhan, here today, Mr Maha Singh, Commissioner, Ambala division, will discharge the duties of the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University in addition to his present duties till further orders.

Similarly, the Commissioner, Hisar division, Mr R.R. Fuliya, will discharge the duties of the Vice-Chancellors of Chaudhary Devi Lal University and Guru Jambheshwar University in addition to his present duties till further orders.

Panipat, April 5
The Vigilance Bureau has seized some records of Bhim Sen Sachar Hospital to verify complaints of alleged embezzlement of funds provided to it for its beautification last year.

According to sources, a team of the bureau, led by Sub-Inspector Satish, visited the hospital yesterday to verify the complaints and secret reports received by the bureau in this regard.

During his visit, the Sub-Inspector asked the officer concerned of the hospital to provide the records pertaining to the funds provided for the beautification of the hospital.

Mr Satish and his members of his team reportedly stayed in the hospital for several hours and went through a number of files. They are report to have seized several documents for a detailed investigation.

While the Deputy CMO of the hospital, Mr
R.K. Garg, claimed ignorance about the seizure of the records, a Vigilance Official, Mr Surender Sharma, confirmed it while talking to The Tribune.

He said it would be finalised after a verification of the records whether any embezzlement of funds had been committed or not. He further said that if any embezzlement of funds was detected, action would be taken against the accused under the relevant provisions of the law.

Health Minister Kartari Devi had said that the allegations of embezzlement would be looked into, during her recent visit to Panipat some days ago. Talking to mediapersons, she had said that she would order an inquiry into the matter.

According to sources, the Health Department had provided Rs 20 lakh to the Civil Hospital for its beautification, when the hospital had been named as Bhim Sen Sachar (BSS) Hospital on December 10 last year.

Bhiwani, April 5
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today paid homage to Surender Singh who died in a choper crash. Mr Shekhawat offered floral tributes before the picture of the late leader and shared grief with Bansi Lal.

He said Surender Singh was the champion of poor and farmers. He implemented several public welfare programmes while serving on different posts in the ministry.

He condoled Ms Kiran Chaudhary and her daughter Ms Shruti, and Ranbir Singh Mahendra, elder brother of late leader

Bhiwani, April 5
People from all walks of life are expected to converge in Bhiwani at 12 noon on April 11 to pay their last respects to the late Surender Singh, former Agriculture and Revenue Minister, Haryana, at a Shraddhanjali Sabha to be held at Bhim Stadium.Mr Surender Singh died in a helicopter crash in Saharanpur on March 31. Bhiwani is the family's hometown.

Chandigarh, April 5
An Assistant Food and Supplies Officer
(AFSO) and Inspector of the Haryana Food and Supplies Department were arrested by the Panipat police for involvement in the missing foodgrains case. Two officials, the District Food and Supplies Controllers
(DFSC) and District Food and Supplies Officer (DFSO), were suspended in the same case.

The Panipat AFSO Bhoop Singh and Inspector RK Bajaj were arrested by the police late last night on the basis of an FIR registered earlier. The
DFSC, Dharam Vir Goyat, and the DFSO, Ms Anita Kharab, were suspended nearly two months after being indicted by the Haryana Food and Supplies Department in a report prepared by their parent department.

Taking cognizance of a report published in The Tribune on April 3 which highlighted that the department was sitting over an exhaustive report on missing foodgrains worth Rs 2 crore, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), acting promptly, sought details of the matter and suspended the officials with immediate effect.

The CMO has also ordered stock-taking for all supplies and asked them to report at the Head Office. The scam involved replacing of foodgrains in 4000-odd gunny bags with husk in Panipat which was discovered following the receipt of an anonymous letter last year.

Prepared by its own officials led by Additional Director, Food and Supplies, Mr AR
Godara, the report had indicted the top officials of the district, recommending strict disciplinary action against Mr Goyat and Ms
Kharab, at the departmental level and registration of police cases against the two and disposal of the remaining stock. However, the department had chosen to stay mum on the issue and had almost shelved the report.

When contacted, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Chander Mohan, also holding the Food and Supplies portfolio in the state, said the DFSC and the DFSO had been suspended on grounds that an inquiry conducted by the head office had found them guilty.

"Also, we are considering registration of a criminal case against both of them shortly. The police will also be asked to conduct thorough investigations into the scam and register cases against the erring staff," he stated.

It maybe recalled that 20,000 quintals of wheat had been replaced by husk in gunny bags while the grain had been sold in the open market. The matter came to light in September last year after an anonymous complaint reached the head office in the city. On investigation, it was found that the bags meant to hold the foodgrain had nothing but husk in them.

Later, the Deputy Director, Rohtak, was assigned the task of conducting a thorough inquiry. However, he failed to submit his report despite repeated directions from the head office and is pending till date. The, the DFSC and the
DFSO, Panipat, "investigated" the issue of missing foodgrains and registered an FIR against the lower staff.

The head office sent four of its officials to Panipat to conduct the inquiry. This report was tabled in February but the department chose to ignore its recommendations till the whole issue was exposed in these columns.

Rohtak, April 5
The Superintendent of Police, Mr Subhash Yadav, said today that the results of the crime control campaign launched in the district would be noticeable within the next few weeks.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club Rohtak here, he said while the police was taking all possible steps to curb crime, the campaign could not succeed without the active involvement and cooperation of the people.

He said he would ensure that the people’s faith in the police was restored and that quick action was taken on any information provided by the residents about a crime. Asked what steps were being taken to keep a check on criminals lodged in the local jail, he said harsh steps would be taken where necessary.
About speed-breakers on national highways, he said though these were illegal, the villagers were justified in erecting these as the highways passed through populated areas. However, these would be modified to cause least possible inconvenience to motorists.

He said traffic control in the city would be his priority. Agreeing that the residents were not used to obeying traffic rules, he said more policemen would be deployed to ensure that the rules were followed and traffic moved smoothly.

Chandigarh, April 5
The Chairman and Members of the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) have moved the High Court seeking dearness allowance, which they claim is not being given to them despite entitlement.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar and Mr Justice M.M. Aggarwal on Tuesday disposed of the petition directing the Haryana Government to take a decision on their representation within two months.

In their petition, HPSC chief Mehar S. Saini and the Members, Mr Dungar Ram, Mr Chattar Singh, Mr Yudhvir Singh, Mr Satbir Singh, Mr Om Parkash Bishnoi, Mr Ranbir Singh Hooda, Mr Santosh Singh and Mr Ram Kumar Kashyap stated while a revision in DA was made effective from January 1, 1996, for the Haryana Government staff, for them it was made effective from November 11, 1998.

Notice issued:

A Division Bench headed by Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar on Tuesday issued notice for August 2 to the Haryana Government, the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), Director, Secondary Education, and all the candidates appointed as Hindi teachers recently. Petitioner Parmod Sharma has sought quashing of the selections on the ground that the same was unfair and illegal.

Saying that he was not selected despite possessing the necessary qualification, the petitioner has claimed that the commission selected many candidates who figured much less on merit list than him. Such selections were based on purely extraneous considerations, it has been alleged.

Counsel for the petitioner told the Bench that the entire selection process was a big farce. The petitioner, who appeared for an interview at PWD Rest House, Bhiwani, was not asked any pertinent questions, which clearly shows that the interview was a farce.

Death mourned:
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday mourned the death of Haryana minister Surrender Singh in a chopper crash recently.

A condolence meeting held here on Tuesday which was chaired by Bar Council Chairman R.S. Tacoria, passed a resolution to this effect.

Rewari, April 5
Two armed youths looted Rs 8 lakh from the cashier of a petrol station Virender Filling Station near Jaliawas village, about 10 km from here, yesterday.
The robbers, along with the booty, fled in a Wagon-R ( HR 26 D 3458), which they abandoned near Mangleshwar Majri village, about 14 km from here.

It is reported that when Karambir, cashier of the petrol station, and his colleague Suresh, along with the bag containing Rs 8 lakh of sale proceeds of the petrol station were going in a Maruti car from the petrol station at Jaisinghpur Khera Barrier on the National Hihgway No. 8 to Rewari to deposit the money in the Rewari branch of the State Bank of Indore, their car was intercepted by the miscreants near Jaliawas village enroute to Rewari. It is further stated that Suresh, along with the car driver Ashok, fled in a huff when one of the miscreants snatched the money bag from Karambir who was still sitting in the car, at the gun point following which the miscreant and his accomplice moved away in the Wagon-R.

The police has registered a case of robbery under Section 392 of the IPC .

Meanwhile as many as 10 police parties have been dispatched to various places in Delhi and Rajasthan.

Ambala, April 5
Forty-one candidates withdrew nominations for the municipal council elections in Ambala Sadar as well as Ambala city.
While 28 candidates withdrew nominations in Ambala city, 13 candidates withdrew nominations in Ambala Sadar. Four candidates’ nominations were rejected in Ambala
Sadar.

With the withdrawal of nominations, 112 candidates are left in the fray in Ambala Sadar. In Ambala city, 115 candidates are in the fray after the withdrawal of nomination.

Allotment of symbols took place today. In Ambala Sadar, conch symbol has been allotted to the Vikas Parishad, sewing machine symbol has been allotted to the Sangharsh Vahini, cylinder has been allotted to the Congress supported candidates while lotus to BJP candidates.

Panipat, April 5
Blankets worth several lakh rupees were gutted in a fire that broke out in Mahaluxmi Handloom situated in the thickly populated area of Patel Nagar here this afternoon.
However, no one was hurt.

It took almost seven hours to put out the fire.
Panipat fire officer B.D. Ahuja said the fire broke out due to a short circuit.